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Tropical Cyclone 02A Develops Over the Arabian Sea

Tropical Cyclone 02A formed over the Arabian Sea on Monday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone 02A was located at latitude 9.3°N and longitude 57.1°E which put it about 285 miles (460 km) southeast of Socotra Island. It was moving toward the northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

A center of circulation began to consolidate within a broader area of low pressure over the Arabian Sea on Monday. Thunderstorms formed west and north of the developing center. There were fewer thunderstorms in the eastern half of the circulation. Storms west of the center began to organize into several bands and the circulation began to exhibit the characteristics of a tropical cyclone. Thunderstorms near the core of the circulation began to generate upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the developing tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 110 miles (175 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone 02A will move through an area favorable for intensification during the next several days. It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C. An upper level ridge is east of the tropical cyclone. The ridge is producing southerly winds which are blowing toward of the top of the circulation. Those winds will generate some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. The circulation of Tropical Cyclone 02A will continue to organize on Tuesday. It will strengthen and it could become the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon by the middle of the week.

The ridge to the east of Tropical Cyclone 02A is steering the cyclone toward the northwest. A general motion toward the north-northwest is expected during the next two or three days. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone 02A will pass west of Socotra Island. It could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to that location. Tropical Cyclone 02A could approach western Oman and eastern Yemen in three or four days. It could be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon at that time.